NCEF Unveils Blueprint Partner Program

by Maria Jimenez-Lara.

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the highly successful Naples Winter Wine Festival, has recently introduced a Blueprint Partner program to highlight strategic initiative partners that exemplify the highest levels of efficacy and accountability in serving underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.

Since its inception in 2000, NCEF has become the single largest source of funding for essential services for at-risk and underprivileged children in the local community. Through its annual grants and  strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted more than 45 of the most effective nonprofits in the community, providing 275,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel.

NCEF’s unique approach, which emphasizes collaboration between organizations and bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community, one issue at a time. Each NCEF beneficiary is fully vetted and many utilize that process as a “Good Housekeeping Stamp of Approval.” The Blueprint Partner program builds upon that process. “This Blueprint Partner program is an endorsement of those strategic initiative partners who are able to have the greatest impact by leveraging resources, creating systems, aligning protocols and
eliminating duplication of services,” said NCEF Chief Executive Officer Maria Jimenez-Lara.

About two dozen Blueprint Partners will be named during the initial rollout of the program. It is anticipated that additional Blueprint Partners will be recognized as the program moves forward. Starting this month, each Blueprint Partner will receive a specially designed logo and boilerplate and will be encouraged to use them in marketing materials, web sites and other promotional uses.

“The purpose behind this new program is to elevate our nonprofit partners’ presence as leaders in the community and to demonstrate how being part of a strategic multi-partner initiative is something to be extremely proud of as each of these partners are vetted, accountable and part of a larger systemic change,” said Joe Masterson, NCEF Trustee  and Grant Committee Chair.

Working creatively with other private or public charitable entities, NCEF has established seven strategic initiatives with the goal of creating long-term solutions to fill the gaps in the broad areas of Naples Children & Education  Foundation Children’s Early Learning, Healthcare, Hunger, Mental Health, Oral Health, Out-of-School Time and Vision. To date, NCEF has committed $52.3 million to these strategic initiatives.

NCEF is improving the educational, emotional and health outcomes of underprivileged and at-risk children. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted more than 45 of the most effective nonprofits in the community, providing 275,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel. NCEF’s unique approach, which emphasizes collaboration between organizations and bridges public and private resources, has become a
blueprint for how to transform a community, one issue at a time.

The Naples Winter Wine Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, offers a weekend of unforgettable memories. Guests enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in private homes and are invited to bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel and wine experiences during an electrifying live auction. This year’s festival runs January 24-26, 2020. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the Naples Winter Wine Festival has raised more than $191 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.

For additional information on the Naples Children & Education Foundation or the Naples Winter Wine Festival, contact Lisa Juliano at lisa@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.